Ford D series
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Ford N / D series
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D series / N series | |
Manufacturer: | ford |
Sales designation: | D series / N series |
Production period: | 1965-1981 |
Previous model: |
Ford Thames Trader Ford FK series |
Successor: |
Ford Cargo Ford N series |
Technical specifications | |
Engines: |
The Ford D-series was a series of medium-duty trucks introduced by the British Ford factories in 1965 as the successor to the Thames Trader . In Oceania it was offered as the N-series , as well as in Germany from 1973 as the successor to the Ford FK series .
The pressed body parts were manufactured at the Ford factory in Saarlouis and welded together at the Southampton factory . Final assembly took place at the new Langley plant near Berkshire in the UK . Three new diesel engines with four and six cylinders were developed for the model series with a displacement of 4, 5.4 and 6 liters, with engine outputs ranging from around 80 to 130 hp, plus two petrol engines with 130 and 150 hp with a view to export markets outside of Europe . Like its strongest competitor, the Bedford TK, and a number of medium-sized US trucks, the D-series was designed as a front control, whereas the predecessor Ford Thames still had a short bonnet.
The total permissible weight of the series was between 7 and 14.5 tons. Construction site dump trucks, for which there was also all-wheel drive , were widespread . In 1967 the series was supplemented upwards with the D 1000 model, which could reach a total weight of up to 28 tons as a truck or articulated truck. This was powered by V8 diesel engines from the manufacturer Cummins , which was later replaced by a Perkins diesel engine built under license .
After Ford Germany had given up the production of trucks above the Transit in 1961, the D-series came on the German market in 1973 from British production as the Ford N-series. Later the N series was manufactured in Amsterdam , the Netherlands . While the D-Series was a huge hit in the UK, the N-Series remained an underdog in mainland Europe.
From 1976 the D-series was also produced under license by the Spanish truck manufacturer Ebro as the Ebro P-series . There was a minor facelift in 1978 when the round headlights were replaced by square ones and the radiator grille was changed. In 1981 the Ford N or D series was replaced by the Ford Cargo in Europe , while there was a new Ford N series in Oceania. Hyundai from South Korea assembled the D series for Ford for the Asian market from 1973 to 1976 and then launched its own model, the Hyundai HD 1000 .
Including all licensed buildings, the model series came to over 500,000 units in its 15-year production period.